Hollie Doyle and the Irish Derby feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Hollie Doyle makes history in Prix de Diane
France: Hollie Doyle has become the first female jockey to win a G1 European Classic after scoring on the John & Thady Gosden-trained Nashwa in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday [June 19].
Doyle, 25, thanked the filly's owner Imad Alsagar, who appointed her as his first jockey two seasons ago, for his support. "It's a massive privilege," she told Sky Sports Racing. "I'm unsure if I would've got an opportunity like this in the whole of my career without the association with Imad.”
Doyle moved up to world #60 (from #102) on TRC Global Rankings after her exploits at Chantilly, where she steered Nashwa to a short neck victory over La Parisienne.
"I don't have the words to describe how I feel,” added the rider. “Before the race, I had great confidence in my filly. She had just finished third in the Oaks, and I knew she would enjoy the return to a shorter trip.”
Doyle could get another chance to land a Classic having accepted the ride on the Markus Klug-trained filly Wagnis in the Deutsches Derby on July 3.
Oaks winner Tuesday leads O’Brien bid for 15th Irish Derby
Ireland: Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday is Aidan O’Brien’s only runner in the €1 million ($1.05m) Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh [June 25]. She will attempt to become the first filly since Balanchine in 1994 to win the Irish Classic. The mount of Ryan Moore she is one of eight declarations which also include Epsom Derby third Westover, who will be ridden by Colin Keane.
Death of Alec Head, aged 97
France: French racing great Alec Head, the patriarchal figure in one the world's most celebrated racing dynasties, has died at the age of 97. Father of Freddy and Criquette Head, he trained four winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Head was champion trainer by wins four times in France during the 1950s. As well as training Nuccio (1952), Saint Crespin (1959), Ivanjica (1976), Gold River (1981) to win the Arc, he had a hand in four other victories as breeder of Detroit plus dual winner Treve and as owner of Three Troikas, who were both trained by Criquette Head.
Baltas to face stewards over prohibited substances
USA: Trainer Richard Baltas has been summoned to appear before stewards on July 1 to answer a California Horse Racing Board complaint filed after 23 of his horses were captured on stable surveillance being administered the substances Higenamine and Paeonol on days they were due to race.
Higenamine, which has been found to act as a stimulant, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List while Paeonol is an anti-inflammatory. Baltas, who has trained 722 career wins including multiple stakes winners, has been banned from training or racing horses at Santa Anita by owners 1/ST Racing since a separate investigation was launched in May.
DeShawn Parker rides 6,000th winner
USA: DeShawn Parker became the 21st US jockey to reach the 6,000-winner milestone with a double at Horseshoe Indianapolis, the racetrack formerly known as Indiana Grand. He ranks seventh in the list of active riders.
“I'm happy to get this done,” said Parker, 51. “I wanted to do it, and I've been trying to do it, but it seemed like I just didn't have the right horse at the right time. Everyone kept encouraging me to get it, which was nice, but I have to say it's even better than I expected to get this milestone. It's a load off, and I couldn't be happier.”
Home Affairs retired to stud after Royal Ascot flop
Australia: Unable to match the success of stablemate Nature Strip at Royal Ascot, Home Affairs has been retired to stud after fading to finish 20th of 24 in the G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes. The Coolmore three-year-old was later reported to be stiff behind after the £1m contest, for which he started favourite.
The winner of four out of nine starts including the Lightning Stakes, Melbourne's top sprint, and the Coolmore Stud Stakes will stand at Coolmore’s Hunter Valley stud for a fee of A$110,000 [$75,000].
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer back in work More here
GB: Ascot records £12.8m loss in 2021 More here
USA: Trainer Phil D’Amato breaks Santa Anita meet record More here
Ireland: 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth retired More here
USA: Santa Anita completes safest-ever meet More here
GB: Ex-footballer Jermaine Jenas leads campaign to boost summer attendances More here
Hong Kong: Top executive William Nader leaving HKJC to lead California owners group More here
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